Overbrook High School (Pine Hill, New Jersey)

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Overbrook High School

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Overbrook High School is an American comprehensive community four-year public high school located in Pine Hill, in Camden County, New Jersey, as part of the Pine Hill Schools. It has an approximate student body of 900. The high school also serves the communities of Berlin Township and Clementon as part of sending/receiving relationships. Its colors are burnt orange and navy. The current principal of Overbrook is Paul Harmelin.

1 History
2 Extracurricular activities
3 Notable achievements
4 Notable alumni
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The school was originally founded as Lower Camden County Regional High School in 1939, in Lindenwold. It served students from up to ten municipalities at one point. The population soon began to grow, however, and Edgewood High School (now Winslow Township High School) was founded in Winslow Township. The school took the name Overbrook Regional Senior High School in the 1950's, and joined its sister school Edgewood as part of Lower Camden County Regional High School District #1.

Soon, the student population became too large for the now 60+ year old building to handle, and the current building was erected in 1969 in Pine Hill. The former building became known as Overbrook Regional Junior High School.

Overcrowding again became an issue in the late 90's, as Overbrook Junior High School was serving Berlin Township, Clementon, Lindenwold, Pine Hill, and portions of Winslow Township. Students complained of crammed hallways and fights. This problem was exacerbated by a plethora of bomb scares, the ambiguity of these threats causing lockdown for both the junior and senior high schools.

In 1999, each of the individual school boards voted to dissolve LCCRHSD. Lindenwold would build its own high school and take over the old junior high building to make it the district's middle school. Edgewood Regional Junior High became Winslow Township Middle School, and Edgewood Senior High became Winslow Township High School. Pine Hill would build Pine Hill Middle School in the forested area next to the school.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

The clubs offered at Overbrook (with faculty advisors listed in parentheses) are African American Culture Club (Minretta McFadden), Audio/Visual Aids (Ben Moore), Director Of Bands (Brian Height), Choir Director (Art McKenkie), Drama Director (Peggy French), Academic Challenge (Sue Pomykacz), Freshman Class Advisor (Adrienne LaVerne), Interact Club (Michael Fryer, International Affairs Club (Jane Windle), Junior Class Advisor (Emilia Hiltner), Leo Club (Dick Graham), Multi-Culture Club (Karen Parker), National Honor Society (Jane Windle, Newspaper Advisors (William McCandless), Overbrook Business Leaders (Laura Emmick), SADD (Dee Fonte), Science League (Phyllis DeRito), Senior Class Advisor (Randy Peddle), Sophomore Class Advisor (Peggy French), Stage Manager (Glenn Davis), Student Government (Nichole Hewitt), Yearbook Advisors (Heather Otto, Holly Gibson, Donna Muller), Youth In Government (Nichole Hewitt), Book Club (Minretta McFadden).

[edit] Notable achievements

The Overbrook Jazz Band has won the NJIAJE State Championship in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2004.
The Overbrook Jazz Band has also been accepted into the NJIAJE State Finals for the past 24 consecutive years.
The Overbrook Jazz Band was ranked #1 in the east coast in 1999 and was one of the top high school jazz bands nationally in 1996.
The Overbrook Rams were undefeated in football in 1998, winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) New Jersey State Group IV title.
As of September 9th, 2006, the Overbrook High School Varsity Football Field became the Larry Mauriello Varsity Football Complex.
Overbrook has a consistent graduation rate of at least 95%
The Overbrook Marching Band Percussion Group Won the Tri-State Title of Best Percussion in the season 2004-2005 with a score of 19.4/20.0, and won the State Best Percussion Title October 28, 2006 with a score of 19.4/20.0

[edit] Notable alumni

James W. Bates, Comic Book and TV Writer. Bart Simpson Comics, Transformers: Cybertron, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Archie's Weird Mysteries. Graduated in 1988.
Trumpeter Matt Cappy, a fixture of recording artist Jill Scott's band
Ron Dayne, NFL Houston Texans running back and 1999 Heisman Trophy winner, graduated from Overbrook in 1996.^[1]
Chris Farr, a member of the faculty at University of the Arts
Eric Lewis, a world renowned jazz piano player, who has worked with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, graduated from Overbrook.